European Marine Board Policy Brief Marine Biotechnology Advancing

European Marine Board Policy Brief Marine Biotechnology Advancing Innovation in Europe’s Bioeconomy Steinar Bergseth (Coordinator ERA-MBT)

A EMB Policy Brief… EMB policy briefs provide a high-level summary of the key research needs and priorities on topics of strategic and emerging importance in seas and ocean science from a European perspective.

Why Europen Marine Board & ERA-NET Marinebiotech? • EMB – The European Marine Board is a partnership of major national marine research institutes, funding organisations and national consortia of universities which aims to facilitate cooperation and coordination in marine science both in Europe and internationally • Has published 2 position papers on “Marine Biotechnology” (PP-4/2001 and PP-15/2010) • Has done stakeholder involvements through conferences and workshops with good connection to the EU-COM • ERA-MBT – A 4 year project to increase knowledge & expand on MBT activities • • Delivered a strategic Research & Innovation roadmap in 2016 Funds 15 transnational projects with industry involvement Involvement of stakeholders at workshops Has a network of 19 marine focused funding agencies

Why Marine Biotechnology? • Europe’s sea basins have an immense biodiversity supporting: – Food production, ecosystem services and the possibility to develop new innovations for societal benefits (platform chemicals, neutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, … ) – Underexplored, Understudied and Underexploited • Biotechnology needs to go marine! Navicula vanhoeffenii Mab. Cent, Tromsø • By sustainable development of marine biotechnology: – – The marine ecosystems can be better understood The bioeconomy will be developed and the economical potential realised The societal requirements can be integrated with ELSA / RRI / ABS issues The Grand Challenges of our time will be addressed (environment, food supply, health, commodities)

What is Marine Biotechnology? … an enabler … «… the use of marine bioresources as the target or source of biotecnology applications» (OECD) Marine Biotechnology

Biotechnology - enabling innovations from marine bioresources 07/03/2021 www. marinebiotech. eu 6

The Policy Brief Marine biotechnology: Adding value to marine bioresources Exploration of the marine environment Biomass production and processing Product innovation and differentiation Enabling technologies and infrastructures • Policy support and stimulation • •

Enabling technologies and Infrastructure Marine Biotechnology requires infrastructures across marine, life sciences and wider science domains: Credit: Biological Station, Roscoff, France Challenges: • Develop next generation sampling, analysis and screening • Establish trans-disciplinary selfsustained marine biotechnology research and innovation networks • Operationalize trans-national access to key infrastructures and facilities (including industry) • Strengthen marine graduate training across the MBT value chain Networks already advancing these…. . EMBRIC, EMBRC, ELIXIR, …

The way forward – key action areas • Strengthen the use and development of new, advanced methods (the omics toolbox integrated with metagenomics and bioinformatics) • Enhance industry interaction and investment (create PPPs with biotech as an enterprise enabler) • Integrate expertise and access to infrastructures and einfrastructures (establish pilot plants transdiciplinarity) • Tailor marine graduate training (develop the right skillsets for attractive careers) • Increase policy awareness and public literacy (understand the societal value of marine biomass) • Expand the exploration of our seas and ocean (understand the biodiversity and its potential) • Further engage marine scientists and biotechnologists in ocean governance (ensure sustainability, regulations and implementations in active dialogues with stakeholders) 07 -03 -2021 www. marinebiotech. eu 10

The future… • A Cofund to develop the Blue Bioeconomy • Relevant marine calls in H 2020 and FP 9 • Better transnational cooperations on marine biotech relevant infrastructures and resources (EMBRIC – EMBRC – JPI-Oceans, ELIXIR, …) – The role of marine regions 07 -03 -2021 www. marinebiotech. eu 11

Contacts European Marine Board: info@marineboard. eu ; www. marineboard. eu ERA-MBT: info@marinebiotech. eu ; www. marinebiotech. eu

Thank you !